Plate it at home in a bucket?

Found these guys today:
http://www.caswellplating.com/

Probably old news to some, but they sell kits you can use to do chrome plating in 5-gal buckets at home!



Anybody on here plate anything at home?

~Jason

 

wow is that for real? i would think the environmental issues would be astounding, and the EPA would be all over this and shut it down. Is it a different process than we know and love? anyone out there try this? if so does it look and act like real chrome? is it "real"chrome? need back up from some one who has used this.

 

Imagine doing this in California and the eco-cops find out.......

 

yeah thats what i was wondering about..i started to read up about it on the site, but dont have the time.would rather see or hear about some one elses trials with this product...anyone?

 

Well, I bought one of Caswell's cad plating and anodizing kits for some heavy money. I played with it as much as I wanted to without good results. Called Caswell and felt like I was talking to a high pressure salesperson rather than a tech man. Was told to visit there chat site for answers. I am in the Social Security age and thus have little patience with this kinda thing. SOOOOOO, I will make a real bargain for anyone who would like to do this or even play with it. If someone will take this whole damn setup I have(cost me over $300) and really learn how to use it and do so, i will give it up ****FREE***. But, if I do and find out that it was sold for a profit, hell won't have any worse than my wrath. This can't be shipped as I have already mixed the chemicals in the big buckets. PM me if interested.
the ****ster

 

that dont sound good

 

I haven't used that setup, but I have zinc plated many items on my Model A. Mainly nuts, bolts, and linkage items to protect from rust. The key to a good job is no rust, no paint, no grease, and on other **** on the item. I wash items in distilled water with a little detergent 2 or 3 times before I plate it. Before I plate I also soak the item in Evapo-rust for a day then wire brush the item. After brushing, I spary it down with brake cleaner. If there is any paint I will use a paint remover. I've been pretty satisfied with the results so far. After plating I use a little simichrome polish to give the item a little sheen. If the part is to be painted, I just shot it and do not polish it.

Dan Marvin, Owner
Exeter Auto Supply

 

This has come up before, but the best thread on it is this one. Read POLISHER's comments especially - he's a chrome shop owner and has some great insight into this.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=144783&highlight=caswell

 

I got one of their "yellow-chromate" kits for doing carbs, worked *****in. I don't think they use real cadmium for eco reasons. Its the copy-cad.

Drew

 

Pretty certain too, that the kits do not use copper nickel hex-a-valent chrome process. It is very toxic according to a long-time NE plater.

 

Awwww man - cyanide is your friend. It says so right on the bottle: "Harmful or fatal if swallowed. Cherry Flavor. This product is totally cool to use in California. No, really - it is..."

~Jason

 

the price on that kit is kinda steep. $585 for the 1.5 gallon kit...

 

yeah not to mention the cost to dispose of the **** after you use it!